Chapter 6 – Dangers of inferiority complex.

(Kaleah POV)

It had been a doomed morning from the beginning, taking care of Zoey alone had taken a toll on me. I really needed to find a person to help me take care of her. The door had been locked when I slept but to my surprise it had been unlocked when I woke.

‘Paranoia would make you lose your mind’ I had thought.

When I opened my phone Cyan had sent me loads of photos of her family. ‘That brat Clay wants to marry a con artist’ is the topic for the day. She had complained about how Hailee Leech was leeching of her brother and her brother was letting her. And though it is stung a lot, I still felt happy for Clayton deep-deep-deep down.

‘Bang.’ Maybe it is not paranoia, Zoey had woken up crying fanatically last night and I had felt a presence.

“Hello, Cyan, is it you?”

“Good morning, Miss Leah.”

I heaved a sigh of relief, it was just Taylor, Cyan called her to take care of me yesterday. What a precious husband she is, note to self, make sure any future husband knows that Cyan Beckett comes before them.

“Who is that man who I had just met?” with the words I was immediately petrified.

Taylor had seen a tall man wearing a hoodie coming out of the house. The apartment complex did not have any CCTV footage on him, the cameras had been off since last night apparently.

Taylor had taken care of Zoey while I file a report, ‘is it father?’ I thought to myself. But why would he come back home after abandoning us? Maybe it is someone of maintenance. But Zoey’s life might be in danger, and I needed to let the police know I might be in danger.

Taylor had stayed with me for a few hours before I sent her home since it was late. I had made sure to lock the door and made sure I used the smart lock Cyan bought in case of danger.

“Bang.” I had just finished giving Zoey her bottle of milk and put her to sleep. It was still too early to sleep, and I had just talked to Cyan on the phone about her brother’s new concubine.

Someone was intensely opening the locked door. I was not paranoid; someone had broken into my apartment last night. I had stood there with a bat ready, praying it does not open.

“Get away.” I screamed.

“Leah baby.”

The voice was a familiar voice, it was neither father who I had suspected nor was it, James. “Why didn’t you answer my call? We still need to go on a second date remember?” Ellen Mule.

He had tried to make the lock budge; I thank Cyan yet again for the lock. He screams a few words before giving up. But then he started sending me texts and pictures of not only me but Zoey that he took last night. ‘Is this brat that is making you not want me anymore?’ what of his message had said.

I had felt a huge sense of threat when he started sending me pictures of my baby sister where he had edited blood and weapons.

With every passing wind, I became scared and frenzied, any small noise became too much that I would hug Zoey tightly. He would occasionally come and try to open the door and I had reached a breaking point soon. The paranoia must have gotten into me, the fear of him hurting me or worst hurting Zoey made me frenziedly pick my phone to call Cyan.

“Cyan, I am really sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your dinner; I just don’t know who else to call. Ellen Mule, he is here he is being very scary.”

I had explained everything to the understanding Cyan before she promised to come rescue me. I could hear him fight the lock yet again, he had screamed about how he would bring someone to break the door down next time.

I do not remember much after that; I remember clenching Zoey closer into my chest telling her how much I loved her. Crying oceans and scared he would cut down both me and Zoey when he returned.

I had woken up in a luxurious room the next morning, Zoey was in a small bed beside me. Cyan must have come late last night; I remember opening the door in a daze after hearing her voice.

‘Ugh, it is still 05:00’ the tendency of always waking up early to take care of Zoey’s bottle before she wakes up. I shook Cyan who was sleeping before me to get directions to the kitchen.

Riches, a luxurious 8-bedroom mansion with three kitchens. I had never visited Cyan’s house in all the years of our friendship, and the art in this house makes me regret not ever coming. The kitchen was well organized with every ingredient packed beautifully.

“I should paint this glory” I murmur as I boil the water for the milk.

“Huh,” I am started by a voice “already walking around like you own the place.”

Tall muscular man stands at the door his head almost close to the door frame, though I have had the pleasure of meeting Clayton Beckett, the media had showed me him enough to recognize the devil incarnate when I see him.

“I…. um… good morning.” He stood there, buttoning up his shirt. ‘He must be getting ready for work.’ But even if he was, he had no right to give me this much fanservice.

“That brat cries too much, I could not sleep a wink.”

“I… I am sorry sir.” I had said like a military intern who was being scolded, how is this man in my bucket list of people I would want to be with when I cannot even face him.

He approaches and I feel all the liquids in my body fight for a way out, it is either I cry or pee myself. And neither option seem to be as embarrassing as facing this man head-on. He put his gorgeous face closer to mine before asking “what do you want?”

“Sir?”

“What do you want from my sister?”

“Oh, from Cyan? Nothing really sir, Cyan already gives me all the unconditional love a friend could.” I enthusiastically said, he frowns, and clenched his fists. ‘He is killing me right here and now.’

“You want to be a leech forever?”

“Sir?” I angrily asked, huh, how dare he, I know very well how Cyan gives more than I could give. But that is because what I have is limited and I am unable to give more.

“What have you done for her that makes you want to stay as her friend? That makes you a worthy friend?”

“Nothing.” I mummer, “but sir if Cyan ever wanted something from me. I would give.”

“Oh, is that so” he curved his lips into a smirk, ‘no matter how gorgeous he is, he is still a bum Leah’ I convince myself internally still looking in his eyes like I was not scared at all. “She wants you to leave her alone.”

“But she hadn’t told me directly, Cyan is a very honest person. She would have told me if she wanted.” With a speed of light I answer, but with the last word I regret ever saying because he towers at me sporting a menacing glare, his messy black hair laying beautifully on his face and those brown eyes shining with rage.

“Do you have a death wish?”

“I wouldn’t be talking to him if I did, he is death itself, how dumb is he?” I voiced out my thoughts accidentally causing him to open his eyes confused.

“I didn’t mean that, Mr. Beckett is very smart; I am the dumb one.” I try to salvage the situation, I glance to see him smile but he immediately snorts when our eyes meet, ‘how odd.’

“Just don’t get my sister in trouble or you would regret it.” He warns.

And me being dumb, I am Cyan’s friend, I must be dumb at times, I let out my tongue to mock him when his head turns to leave but I am miserably caught by the mirrorlike refrigerator.

“Miss?” He turns to look at the frightened me, he raises his hand and I clench my eyes closely. I start reciting Death, be not proud by John Donne word for word in my head.